A Brief History of BILTRITE Furniture
Family & Locally Owned and Operated Since 1928
1928 BILTRITE Furniture opens on 3rd and Garfield in Milwaukee, founded by Irwin Kerns as an upholstery shop. The store sold custom made sofas for about $1,000 in the 1930’s, and has continued its reputation for quality furniture for four generations. While BILTRITE no longer builds its own furniture, the furniture now sold at BILTRITE comes from brand name companies, with the vast majority manufactured in the US and Canada.
1948 BILTRITE moves to 723 West Mitchell Street.
1989 BILTRITE acquires an additional building on Mitchell Street and remodels to connect four buildings (one of which was the old Park movie theater, another an A & P) as one large multi-level store.
1994 BILTRITE becomes a founding member of FurnitureFirst, a billion dollar buying group that helps independent retailers across the country pass savings onto consumers as well as compete with national chains.
2001 Randi K., 4th generation, graduates from High Point University in North Carolina with a Bachelors Degree in Interior Design and a minor in Art. High Point University is the only college in the country that offers a Home Furnishings Program that is connected to the furniture industry.
2004 Brad K., 4th generation, graduates from High Point University with Bachelors Degrees in Home Furnishings Marketing, Home Furnishing Management, & Business Administration. High Point University is the only college in the country that offers a Home Furnishings Program that is connected to the furniture industry.
2005 BILTRITE purchases land in Greenfield to build a new facility.
2006 BILTRITE relocates to the new 65,000 sq. ft. location that includes our showroom, warehouse, and offices.
2006 Randi K., 4th generation, becomes BILTRITE's spokesperson.
2008 BILTRITE celebrates their 80th Anniversary.
